Chapter Eight: Buying Medicine and Provisions

In a secluded courtyard in the western part of the city, Hongdou’s brother, Xu Fei, bowed to the young mistress.

Song Xirui nodded with a faint smile. "You have done very well."

"Thank you for the praise, Madam. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to command me."

Xu Fei was a rugged, burly man who bore no resemblance to his sister, Hongdou, whose face was as round as a bun, yet he possessed a keen attention to detail beneath his coarse exterior.

Song Xirui did not stand on ceremony and asked directly, "Xu Fei, you have many connections. Can you convert these funds into grain and medicine before tonight?"

"It should be possible," Xu Fei replied. Though he was puzzled, he did not press for reasons. "There are many in the capital who seek our help; this is not too difficult."

"Good. Go quickly then."

Song Xirui’s eyes brightened, and she added a reminder, "Remember, buy as much as you can. Do not hold anything back."

"Understood."

"Also, I have another task for you—"

***

The next day, Magistrate Huang received word that a plague had broken out in the areas surrounding the capital. Alarmed, he immediately took a physician to investigate.

The reports were true.

It was indeed a plague, and it was no longer confined to just one or two locations. It was beginning to spread from the outskirts toward the heart of the capital.

"This must be reported to His Majesty at once!" Magistrate Huang hurried back to the Capital Prefecture Office and found his colleague. "Magistrate Feng, there is an outbreak in Nanyuan Village. Please, go to the palace immediately! I am going to settle the disaster victims."

But Magistrate Feng stopped him.

"Magistrate Huang, do not be so hasty. The Crown Prince is inside."

"What?!" Magistrate Huang was stunned.

***

Meanwhile, on her sickbed, Song Xirui waited leisurely for news of the spreading plague.

In her past life, the rumors had emerged on this very day. However, it usually took some time for the news to become common knowledge, simply because the heartless Crown Prince had suppressed the rumors, preferring to watch the common people die rather than risk the Emperor’s censure.

How could she let him get his way?

The people Xu Fei had arranged must have already spread the news far and wide. While the Crown Prince had blocked Magistrate Huang, he had not been able to stop Song Xirui’s people. The rumors of the plague surged through the capital, eventually reaching the Emperor’s ears.

***

"Absurd!"

The Emperor was furious. "What on earth has the Crown Prince been doing all this time? How could he be so oblivious to a matter as grave as a plague?"

After berating his son, the aging monarch displayed his usual decisive nature. "Open the national granaries and provide full relief to the victims. Select thirty-six officials to patrol every corner of the capital! Furthermore, order more than half of the medical clinics in the city to send out physicians to save the people! Set up relief stations everywhere and establish a defensive perimeter!"

The rumors of the plague were like ink dropped into a pond; once they touched the water, they dispersed instantly, leaving the entire capital in a state of panic.

***

At the Zhuangyuan Mansion, Lady Li was pacing back and forth in a flurry of anxiety.

"What are we to do? What are we to do!"

She was incredibly selfish and terrified that she would not be able to enjoy her twilight years.

Su Yun looked stern. "Mother, we must buy medicine and grain immediately. Once the plague spreads, food prices will likely skyrocket to the heavens!"

"Yes! We must buy grain. I shall go to the treasury for funds right now!" With a sudden sense of purpose, Lady Li nodded repeatedly.

But before she could take a step, she turned back.

Just as Su Yun was about to ask why, he saw her grim face. "The treasury is empty!"

"How can that be?"

Lady Li was so angry she gnashed her teeth. "It’s all that loser Song Xirui! Not only was the treasury robbed, but she took three thousand taels of silver for a single thousand-year-old ginseng root! The rest of the money is tied up in accounts and cannot be withdrawn!"

"This is troublesome. If we are completely unprepared, the Su mansion may not survive this!" Su Yun never expected that his mother, usually so cunning, would also be short on funds.

If the plague really spread here...

"Wait, don't we still have Song Xirui’s dowry?" Lady Li suddenly slapped her forehead and exclaimed happily, "Yes, yes, we shall use that loser's dowry!"

"But for a husband's family to use a woman's dowry, it might damage our reputation." Though Su Yun did not care for Song Xirui, he was extremely concerned about his own public image.

Lady Li clicked her tongue. "My foolish Yun’er, if you catch the plague, what use will your reputation be?"

"Besides, this is what Song Xirui owes us. She has always listened to you; go and coax her into handing over her dowry."

Su Yun was persuaded and turned to go convince Song Xirui.

***

An incense stick later, in Song Xirui's room.

"Xirui, it is not that our Su family covets your dowry, but the treasury has been robbed, and there is no money to buy medicine. If the plague spreads, it will inevitably endanger you as well." Su Yun spoke with feigned sincerity, guiding her along.

Song Xirui asked anxiously, "Husband, is it really that serious?"

"Would I lie to you? People are already looting for food outside. Quickly, bring out your dowry, and I will send someone to buy supplies!" Su Yun urged.

She used to be so submissive; why was she so suspicious now?

Song Xirui looked distraught. "But... but my dowry was all placed into the treasury, along with Mother’s silver, and it was all stolen by the thieves..."

Su Yun was stunned.

She had actually put her own dowry into the Su family’s treasury? How could that be?

Lady Li had just stepped into the room and heard this, her expression changing instantly as she shouted sharply, "Song Xirui, what nonsense are you spouting?! When did I ever know that you supplemented the Su family with your dowry?"

What a venomous heart, to dare lie to her son!

Song Xirui trembled, looking pitiful, but she did not yield an inch. "Mother, I am not lying. The accounts of the mansion are all clearly recorded. Nurse Chen was there when I added the funds; you can check for yourself."

As she spoke, both Su Yun and Lady Li looked at Nurse Chen, utterly shocked.

Nurse Chen turned pale and immediately fell to her knees. "I... I thought the Old Madam knew, and I was afraid that if it got out, it would look bad for the Young Master, so I pretended not to know."

Damn it, she truly had thought that!

Lady Li was so angry she felt she might vomit blood. "You fool!"

After cursing, she immediately turned to Song Xirui. "Xirui, you couldn't have put all of your dowry in, could you? Surely you kept some back!"

Song Xirui looked solemn. "Mother, how can you think so little of me? My heart for my husband is as clear as the sun and moon; how could I keep anything for myself?"

*Hmph*, she had long anticipated that the Su family would shamelessly target her dowry!

Lady Li glared at her. "Fine, fine, fine! I have wronged you, then!"

Furious, she turned and left. Su Yun looked at Song Xirui, his gaze now more complicated than before.

Did she really love him that much?

He followed his mother out.

Once she had seen them off, Song Xirui felt much better and was preparing for a comfortable sleep when an uninvited guest arrived.

"How is sister-in-law feeling?" Luo Yun'er asked softly.

Song Xirui faked a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Yun'er. My health is just as it is; I am merely passing the days."

She glanced at Luo Yun'er’s face, noticing her eyes were slightly red, and deliberately gave her an opening.

"Why are your eyes red, sister? Is something troubling you?"

Luo Yun'er immediately said, "Sister-in-law, could you lend me some money? The plague has broken out outside, and I hear one can lose their life in a single day. I am alone and helpless, and I do not wish to ask my cousin for help. You are the only one with a Bodhisattva’s heart; please, have pity on me."